Saudi to review tough speeding laws

Saudi’s Shura Council is set to next week revoke tough penalties doubling speeding fines for defaulters, it was reported.

Under Saudi laws, if a fine is not paid within 30 days of the violation, the offender will incur the maximum fine.

However, that could soon change with a report by the Security Committee discussing the issue set to be reviewed by the Shura Council next week, the Saudi Gazette reports.

According to sources quoted by the English daily, the committee’s recommendations included amending Article 73 of the laws to cancel the doubling of fines if they are not paid within the stipulated period of time.

However, fines should continue to increase commensurate with how much a motorist was speeding.

Fines range from a minimum of $80 (SR300) to a maximum of $240 (SR900).

However, in some cases drives caught at extreme speeds will be referred to a special court to face trial, with the possibility of jail.